Julian politely bullied his way past everyone. He found the journalist Trevor Lowell in front of the Caribbean Reef exhibit. Coral tones of aquatic light guided him closer to the tank, a perfect spot away from prying eyes that might recognize him. “Gosh, Captain, I would say you’re ashamed of me,” the reporter had the nerve to joke. He held out his hand for him to shake, but Julian ignored it. Fake sincerity never sat right with him, so why pretend? “What do you want, Lowell, dinner and a date?” He turned away from the throngs of kids who moved in a single-file line past them. The hipster roach would get very few moments of his time. Besides, if he grabbed the journalist by the throat and choked the shit out of him, it would definitely change the trajectory of his career. “Where’s Detective Thornbird? I was expecting him.” “He’s unavailable at the moment. Perhaps I can help you. Tell me, Mr. Lowell, what’s your story about?” A green sea turtle floated close to them with a school of parrotfish trailing behind.
